I joined the hard working and enthusiastic team 5 weeks ago, coming from England, where I work as a full time Zoo keeper at Drusillas Zoo park. There I work with an array of different species but I work very closely with the Sulawesi crested black macaques (Macaca nigra) which have become a key species during my career.

I have worked in zoos since the age of 16 and now I am 22, I wanted to experience the work of a conservation programme that works directly to conserve this species and its habitat. The crested black Macaques are an amazing species, and after working so closely with them in captivity, I felt as though I wanted to see and experience a different side of working with them out in the wild.

After seeing these majestic monkeys out in the rainforest at the Tangkoko nature reserve it made me appreciate the need to conserve them and even more to educate people about their Critically Endangered status, the population decline and the threats that they are facing. Although I was here for only 5 weeks, I contributed to the Selamatkan Yaki programme in many ways. Bringing a different perspective to the team from a zoo keepers position, and also bringing new ideas, e.g. for education and awareness raising strategies and fundraising.

Yaki in a family group in Tangkoko Nature Reserve, one of the last remaining places they live in the wild. Yaki dalam kelompok keluarga di Cagar Alam Tangkoko, salah satu tempat terakhir yang tersisa untuk mereka hidup di alam liar.

From April 16th – 18th I attended the first workshop organised by the BKSDA (an Indonesian governmental body) and Selamatkan yaki. This workshop went perfectly, and all participants collaboratively came up with great ideas how to save the Yaki for our as well as future generations, whilst having the opportunity to network. I helped by filming the workshop, taking photographs, greeted guests, and made sure everyone was comfortable.

I have also been involved in the Hari bumi (Earth Day) event that took place at Tasikoki, a wildlife rescue and education centre, on April 20th and 21st. Here I helped spread the word to local children, students and people about Selamatkan Yaki’s programme. Whilst here I got the chance to look around the centre and saw the hard work put in by the Tasikoki staff.

This is your chance to come up with fresh, creative ideas that will be printed onto the front of our T-shirts. Simply upload your design on our Facebook page or send us an email with your design to info@selamatkanyaki.com. The winner will be notified via Facebook, Twitter and the Blog, and receives a free T-shirt with their winning design on it. The competition runs from May 1st till June 4th 2013 and the design is for the T-shirt front only. The design on the back stays the same as does the logo. Here you will find the Selamatkan Yaki logo, in case you need it for your creative idea.